Lust

Lust Seven Deadly Sins Series J.L. Leslie Copyright 2022. J.L. Leslie. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes, promotions, authorized giveaways or teasers only. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Created with Vellum Dedication I want to, first of all, dedicate this book to my mom, like I do all my books. I miss you! A special thanks to my husband and kids for allowing me to go into my writing cave (which I do quite often) and for their love and support! Also, to my sister for listening to my ideas and never complaining! You’re the best! I love you all! A special thanks to my PA, Amber Feist, for being my friend and sounding board! We can mark another one off this incredible journey! To my fan group, J.L. Leslie’s Fiction Addiction, for being the best fan group an author could ever ask for! Thank you! My Beta Babes (beta readers) Amber Feist, Morgan Terry, Joanna Edger, Jackie Barton, and Lynn Underwood. Thank you for reading my words and polishing them up! To my ARC team: thank you so much for reading my words! It amazes me each day that people take the time to read what I write and sometimes actually enjoy it! Last, but not least, a special thanks to Veronique Poirier for doing such an incredible job on the Seven Deadly Sins (Mafia Romance Series) covers! Contents Untitled Translations PROLOGUE 1. Milana 2. Salvatore 3. Milana 4. Salvatore 5. Milana 6. Salvatore 7. Milana 8. Salvatore 9. Milana 10. Salvatore 11. Milana 12. Salvatore 13. Milana 14. Salvatore 15. Milana 16. Salvatore 17. Milana 18. Salvatore 19. Milana 20. Salvatore 21. Milana 22. Salvatore 23. Milana 24. Salvatore 25. Milana 26. Salvatore 27. Milana 28. Salvatore 29. Milana 30. Salvatore 31. Milana 32. Salvatore 33. Milana 34. Salvatore 35. Milana 36. Salvatore 37. Milana 38. Salvatore 39. Milana 40. Salvatore EPILOGUE Untitled Thank you Seven Deadly Sins: Mafia Romance Series When I was just a little girl I asked my mother, what will I be Will I be pretty? Will I be rich? Here's what she said to me Que sera, sera Whatever will be, will be The future's not ours to see Que sera, sera What will be, will be (Song By: Doris Day & Frank De Vol) How I wish that could be true. Translations Madre - Mother Padre - Father Mio figlio - My son Scatola del tesoro - Treasure box Segreti - Secrets Mio piccolo tesoro - Little darling Signora - Miss, Ms., or Mrs. Cazzo di codardo - Fucking coward Disgustoso - Disgusting Mio amico - My friend Deliziosa - Delicious Maledetto lui - Damn him Molto interessante - Very interesting Invidia - Envious Ben fatto - Well done Excellente - Excellent Cazzo in giro - Fucking around Tesoro - Honey, darling, treasure Bellissima - Beautiful Infantile - Childish Perfetto - Perfect Figlio - Son Mio dolce - My sweet Mio caro - My dear Amore mio - My love Perdonami - Forgive me PROLOGUE Salvatore My father always told me life is full of devastation. What makes a boy become a man is how he reacts to it. Does he react like a coward? Or a leader? Which would I be? I often asked myself this question, then realized early in life there are some devastations a boy should not witness, no matter which one he is. His favorite puppy getting splattered by a semi. His mother wasting away from cancer. His father balls fucking deep inside the woman he lost his virginity to. To name a few. I step away from the door, away from the grunts and groans, and walk calmly to my mother’s room. Giacomo Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” plays softly while she lies in bed. Her eyes don’t flutter open when I approach her. I’ve been coming here for weeks, ever since she became bedridden. Sometimes my best friend, Millie, comes with me, a white orchid always with her, but mostly it’s just the two of us. We listen to music, and sometimes, I read to her. My father is never here. Millie has been here more than he has, regaling my mother with stories of our nonexistent adventures. Not my father. I’m uncertain if it’s because he can’t handle this type of devastation or because it simply isn’t devastating to him. Sitting down, I reach for my mother’s hand. It’s cold and fragile, making me fear my grasp will break her tiny bones. I’m a scrawny boy, barely a hundred pounds. My father constantly reminds me that he’ll figure out a way to make a man out of me. One of his ideas was sending one of our housekeepers to rid me of my virginity on my thirteenth birthdayーthe same housekeeper my father is fucking at this very moment. My father, Stefano Moretti, is a man who takes what he wants when he wants. Throughout my childhood, I’ve witnessed despicable things at his hand and not a shred of remorse. He’s stolen from his family and betrayed his friends. I suppose he has to be ruthless if he wants to stay on the throne. He isn’t confused about whether or not he’s a coward or a leader. He’s absolutely a leader. Too many others covet his seat, waiting for the day he’ll slip up, and they can take him down一Millie’s father included. I’ve been promised a future where I’m the leader of the families one day. Where we will rule together. The part of me convinced I’m a coward is terrified, but the other partーthe part that enjoys witnessing the despicable things my father doesーrelishes the thought. “Salvatore,” my mother whispers. “I will miss you the most.” “Madre.” "Shh, mio